Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-06-10
FARM AND GARDEN.
BREAKING CALVES TO LEAD.

''"'"5' va having this accompaniment
will greatly increase It's value. Even
in its calf age docility in being easily
led will give it more frequent changes
of feed when tied by a rope, and thus
insure a greater thrift and larger
growth. II will prove an advantage so
long as it lives, and the sooner this do
cility is learned the better for the ami
NAL and its owner.
PIGS FROM YOUNG sows.
The first litter of young SOW will
be large one, and four to six pigs well
fed and thrifty are more profitable than
great number. AS the SOW has not
yet made her full growth the pigs
should be taught to eat rs early as pos
sible, to diminish the demand on her
for nutriment. They should he taken
off when six weeks old and fed by them
selves, though one or two of the weak
lings may be left couple of weeks
longer With this help the litter will
make more even lot of shoats.
DWARF PEAS.
The dwarf varieties of peas are not
ms popular Us they were few years
ago. People took to them mainly be-
cause the vines did not need the trouble
and expense of stalking. But they do
not compare in yield with the best of
the larger sorts. The little vines may
be and sometimes are covered with
pods, but they are not large enough TO
hold full crop, and when once picked
the vine is done for. In the larger
vines there is more of a succession of
bloom. giving a longer picking from
the same seeding.
POTATOES WITH DEEP EYES.
No potato is likely to be pupular for
market which has deep eyes. What
ever its excellence in other respects.
this defect makes it less salable. There
is not only great loss in preparing
such potatoes for cooking. but it is of
the most valuable part of the potato,
which is near the skin. A smooth.
even surface with eyes not deeply set
enables the housewife TO pare the
potatoes with little waste, and if COM
bined with elongated shape to bake
them unpeeled, which is perhaps the
best way to cook this vegetable.
INSECT POWDER.
This valuable n d TO the farmer and
gardener in killing small, noxious in
sects needs TO be fresh to be most effect
i've. Its poisonous principle is VIOLA tile
and soon wastes away on exposure to
the air. Those who deal IN it usually
keep it in glass jars safe from exposure.
but when brought home it is commonly
left in papers until used. and that pur-
chased last season is now presumably
worth little or nothing. 1t is better to
get new insect powder and throw the
old away. Its cost is far less than the
loss from trusting powder whose
strength has evaporated.
BREEDING GOOD LAYERS.
1t is only the poultry keeper who
makes pets Of his flock, and knows the
individual points of each one, who can
attain success. Such a one can DO
much to improve the capacity of his
hens by setting eggs only from those
that prove the best layers. The pro-
fessional breeders all understand this,
and when they offer selected eggs at
higher price it is better if they deal
TO take them than eggs
equally pure bred from the common
flock. Unless the breeder takes this
care in selecting his own stock. it will
ieteriorate, even though the breed may
not be mixed with others.
OVERFLOW FROM THE BARNARD
When the barnyard is on higher
ground than adjoining land its over
low from the roofs of barns and sheds !
will carry oil much valuable plant food. |
Still, it is better to have the BARNARD |
nigh and dry than to put it in hollow,
Is is often done where water flows in
10 it Near barnyards where It's waste
extends, the land should be kept in
crops requiring the greatest amount of
'ertiizing, which will be furnished
gratis If stock can be soled the crops /
Tor this purpose should be grown near
he barnyard, both for convenience in
cutting and securing the feed, and also
because land near barnyards is
generally rich to begin with, and
IAN easily be made as fertile as desired.
CoRNsTALKs IN MANURE
Where cornstalks have been fed I'M
tut their long, woody substance makes
he manure not only difficult to handle,
out reduces its value very materially. |
Il is hard work doing good blowing
with loose, long stalks covering the sur
ACE, and when they are turned under /
.he furrow the effect on light, dry soil |
S to nearly neutralize the value of the
manure. In dry season such manure /
often does even more harm than good. /
On heavy and rather wet land these
,ornstalks may be beneficial by improv-
no Is mechanical condition, especially |